Manager, International R&D/QA - Cheese Category

Manager, International R&D/QA - Cheese Category

Location: Detroit, Michigan (Hybrid, 3 days onsite)

Relocation Assistance: Available

Travel Requirement: 40-50% international travel, primarily across Europe and Asia

Employment Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire

About the Role

We are seeking a Manager, International R&D/QA - Cheese Category to lead the development, commercialization, and quality management of cheese ingredients that support global business growth. Reporting to the Director of Global Food Safety & Quality Assurance, this role serves as a technical leader within the Corporate Quality Assurance organization and partners closely with cross-functional teams, suppliers, and manufacturing partners worldwide.

This position focuses on driving innovation, quality, and supplier collaboration across the cheese category while ensuring product consistency, food safety, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence across international markets.

Why This Role Matters

As the organization continues its international expansion across more than 30 countries, this role will provide dedicated leadership for the cheese category with particular emphasis on Europe and Asia. The successful candidate will help strengthen supplier partnerships, improve product performance, and support strategic growth initiatives globally.

Responsibilities

Product Development & Innovation

• Lead research and development activities for cheese ingredients and related dairy products.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in dairy science, cheese technology, and food applications.
• Develop and optimize formulations to meet quality, functionality, and business objectives.
• Support product validation through laboratory testing, pilot plant trials, scale-up production, and commercialization.
• Conduct sensory evaluations, restaurant testing, and shelf-life studies.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on product performance, consistency, and quality.

Supplier Development & Technical Partnerships

• Manage supplier-based product development projects across international markets.
• Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturers to improve products, ingredients, and production processes.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities, manufacturing processes, and quality systems.
• Provide technical leadership during product investigations, troubleshooting efforts, and issue resolution.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with supplier quality, technical, and operational teams.

Quality Assurance & Compliance

• Support and maintain quality assurance programs, policies, and procedures.
• Develop, review, and maintain product specifications, standards, and technical documentation.
• Participate in supplier audits, assessments, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Identify, investigate, and resolve food safety and quality concerns.
• Support recall readiness activities, mock recalls, and product retrieval processes.
• Ensure compliance with applicable domestic and international food safety regulations and standards.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Biology, Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
• 7 years of experience in the food industry.
• 2 years of food manufacturing experience.
• Direct experience developing cheese products or cheese ingredients.
• Experience in food product development and commercialization.
• Experience working with supplier quality, supplier development, or quality assurance programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of dairy science and cheese processing technologies.
• Experience supporting global or international food manufacturing operations.
• Strong understanding of food safety systems, quality management programs, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience conducting sensory evaluations and shelf-life testing.
• Demonstrated success managing supplier relationships and cross-functional projects.
• Ability to travel internationally up to 50%.

Key Areas of Expertise

• Cheese formulation and product development
• Dairy science and cheese processing technology
• Food manufacturing and commercialization
• Supplier quality and supplier development
• Food safety and regulatory compliance
• Sensory evaluation and shelf-life testing
• Global ingredient sourcing and supplier management

Preferred Background

• Approximately 70% experience in Research & Development / Product Development
• Approximately 30% experience in Quality Assurance and Supplier Partnership Management

Skills

• Product Development
• Food Science
• Dairy Science
• Cheese Technology
• Quality Assurance
• Supplier Quality Management
• Commercialization
• Food Manufacturing
• Food Safety
• Regulatory Compliance
• Sensory Evaluation
• Global Supplier Management
• Cross-Functional Leadership

Work Authorization: Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship requirements.